Timeline

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This is a Timeline, showing very briefly how the English Language began and some of the influences on it over the centuries.

Match the following people, events or milestones in the development of English with the right dates or periods:   The earliest inhabitants of these islands Choose one ------------------- Angles & Saxons Beowulf Celts Romans Vikings In 54 BC there was an invasion of Choose one ------------------- Angles & Saxons Beowulf Celts Romans Vikings In the Dark Ages, after the Romans, many new settlers came, including Choose one ------------------- Angles & Saxons Beowulf Celts Romans Vikings Then raiders and settlers came from the North, bringing more new words Choose one ------------------- Angles & Saxons Beowulf Celts Romans Vikings The title of a heroic tale, written down in Old English in 1000 AD Choose one ------------------- Angles & Saxons Beowulf Celts Romans Vikings   Old English developed from languages the settlers and invaders brought. Latin came back to these shores through the church. Then:   1066 Choose one ------------------- Caxton sets up his printing press The Bible translated into English First English-speaking king for 300 years Geoffrey Chaucer Norman Invasion 1399 Choose one ------------------- Caxton sets up his printing press The Bible translated into English First English-speaking king for 300 years Geoffrey Chaucer Norman Invasion Late C14th Choose one ------------------- Caxton sets up his printing press The Bible translated into English First English-speaking king for 300 years Geoffrey Chaucer Norman Invasion c.1343-1400 Choose one ------------------- Caxton sets up his printing press The Bible translated into English First English-speaking king for 300 years Geoffrey Chaucer Norman Invasion 1476 Choose one ------------------- Caxton sets up his printing press The Bible translated into English First English-speaking king for 300 years Geoffrey Chaucer Norman Invasion   From the C14th to the C16th, the Renaissance meant new words were needed for the ideas and learning of the age. Many of these came from Latin via French.   1525 Choose one ------------------- The King James Bible First printed Bible in English First permanent English-speaking settlement in USA Samuel Johnson's dictionary William Shakespeare 1564-1616 Choose one ------------------- The King James Bible First printed Bible in English First permanent English-speaking settlement in USA Samuel Johnson's dictionary William Shakespeare 1607 Choose one ------------------- The King James Bible First printed Bible in English First permanent English-speaking settlement in USA Samuel Johnson's dictionary William Shakespeare 1611 Choose one ------------------- The King James Bible First printed Bible in English First permanent English-speaking settlement in USA Samuel Johnson's dictionary William Shakespeare 1755 Choose one ------------------- The King James Bible First printed Bible in English First permanent English-speaking settlement in USA Samuel Johnson's dictionary William Shakespeare   Colonists went to settle across the world, carrying the English language with them, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. In these countries the use of English spread, but the language also changed as local words were added. (See 'Borrowed words' for some of those words that travelled back to the UK) Other influences on the spread of the language include:   During the C17th Choose one ------------------- First libraries Invention of the telegraph Early newspapers Invention of the telephone First postal service During the C18th Choose one ------------------- First libraries Invention of the telegraph Early newspapers Invention of the telephone First postal service 1837 Choose one ------------------- First libraries Invention of the telegraph Early newspapers Invention of the telephone First postal service 1840 Choose one ------------------- First libraries Invention of the telegraph Early newspapers Invention of the telephone First postal service 1875 Choose one ------------------- First libraries Invention of the telegraph Early newspapers Invention of the telephone First postal service     What differences do you think these inventions made?

When you have finished matching all the dates and events, go to the next page to check your answers.

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